Archive for December, 2008

Thanks again to everyone who donated items for our auctions, and thanks to everyone who bid on the items we posted in December. Steph is still working out the total for everything so far, but it looks like it should be well over $1,000.

And we’re not done! We still have plenty of items to auction off, including some additional art, several books sent to us by Fantagraphics and IDW, and much more! We’ll start posting those after the new year, so watch for an update then!

This past weekend showed more improvement for Lance & Carla. Carla is making steady progress in movement, eating, walking, and is gaining strength knowing that Lance is improving as well. She visits him at the entry to his room and makes him smile. The regimen of healing is exhausting but she is determined. They clearly give each other strength so vital to recovery.

Lance continues to have some complications but is improving as well. He is alert and attempts to communicate with only his eyebrows and silent lips. It was great to see the real Lance in his eyes again but very frustrating to know that he has so much to say and has to keep silent. I’m really bad at the multiple choice game in trying to interpret his lips but it’s great to know that his brain is working and it’s just a matter of time. Either today or tomorrow the doctor plans to exchange his current trach. for a slightly smaller one which will allow him to talk a bit! He is mostly able to breathe without the ventilator but at times they do need to assist him with oxygen again. His lungs are getting stronger and he’s gaining momentum in his battle with the pneumonia. I know that being able to see Carla has assisted him greatly in his own healing journey.

Michael also discussed in general terms the December 15 Star Trek II Wrath of Khan fundraising evening, but rather than take all of his news, I suggest you follow the link for the full scoop.

In the comments section of a recent post, someone wanted to know if there was a way to make a direct contribution. So, with the thinking that many folks coming to this site for the first time might have the same question, it is a good time to reiterate some important donation information.

If you’d just like to donate some money to them, you can mail a check to the fund that the Montecito Fire Department set up for them:

I love this industry. To paraphrase Uncle Billy from Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life: “We told a few people you were in trouble and they scattered all over town collecting money. They didn’t ask any questions — just said: ‘… count on me.’ ” The outpouring of support for Lance and Carla is seemingly endless and deeply appreciated by everyone involved.

This morning, Stephanie let me know she had set up a string of new auctions. This particular batch of auctions end on Sunday. There is a bevy of great material to bid on, including:

Colleen Doran: Sandman

— Original Art from Absolute Sandman Volume 2 by Colleen Doran (donated by the artist)

— LOT of 15 Will Eisner Books (donated by by John DiBello and Bully): A Contract With God; A Life Force; City People Notebook; Comics & Sequential Art; Dropsie Avenue; Expressive Anatomy; Graphic Storytelling; Invisible People; Name Of The Game; New York: The Big City; The Plot; The Building; The Dreamer; To The Heart Of The Storm; and The Will Eisner Reader

— Lot of 8 TOP SHELF Graphic Novels (donated by Top Shelf): Too Cool To Be Forgotten hardcover by Alex Robinson; The Surrogates trade paperback by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele; Veeps: Profiles in Insignificance hardcover by Bill Kelter and Wayne Shellabarger (this is a nonfiction book; the rest are graphic novels); Korgi Book 2 by Christian Slade hardcover; Essex County Vol. 3: The Country Nurse by Jeff Lemire softcover; Yam Bite-Sized Chunks by Corey Barba softcover; Johnny Boo by James Kochalka hardcover; and Swallow Me Whole by Nate Powell hardcover

I am Carla’s brother. I live in South San Francisco and commute to Orange, CA where the UCI Burn Center is. I just got back from visiting them yesterday, and I am happy to report that they are both out of danger and have begun the hard tasks of rehabilitation from both the smoke inhalation and burns. Burns require daily cleaning and the ‘hydrotherapy’ is taxing and painful. Carla is able to talk and is walking a little, and we hope that Lance is not far behind.

Fortunately, UCI is a top facility and even the nursing staff has decades of burn treatment experience. As far as bad situations go, its the best it can be right now.

So, at this time, anything that can be done to keep their morale up is vastly important. I have been out the comic world since high school (I am 42) so any help from the blogsphere would be most appreciated. Anyone know Stan Lee’s unlisted phone number?

Carla has asked for updates on the following:

Secret Invasion
Dark Reign (Rain?)
Final Crisis

Iron Man
The two new Thor books with Matt Fraction
Man of War
God Sized Thor . . .

Jason went on to offer his email address for people to send him information. Please follow the link if you want to get Jason’s email address. But Lucas actually advises a better way to get info to Jason in his post:

So, folks, what I’d ask is this- Let’s flood this comments section with well wishes and updates on Carla’s favorite books. We’ll then send Jason the link for a nice, easy single place to check (and his email won’t be flooded) . . . So sound off below, and please, keep any negative thoughts on these books to yourselves in this case, k?

Thanks again to Lucas for bringing attention to the update, as well as Blog@ 2.0’s continued support of the auction efforts.

“Lance is conscious and breathing on his own! Today he was able to focus, smile, sit up and breathe without the respirator! He was doing so well that the nurses were able to wheel Carla outside of his room so they could see each other, wave their heavily wrapped arms, and exchange “I love you’s (Lance can’t speak yet but Carla has her glasses and could read his lips). An emotional time for all, including the nurses! The staff there is wonderful for many reasons, but their investment personally is undeniable.

Lance is scheduled for his fourth and hopefully final surgery this coming Friday, to do the final grafts on his left arm and hand, and possibly his right ear. Once the surgeries are completed, their progress should be able to go nowhere but forward!”

Other items posted today include a Zatanna bust generously donated by my local comic shop, Happy Harbor Comics in Edmonton, Alberta. I also tossed up another unopened video game from my personal collection, this time the Japanese version of Kingdom Hearts II.

Again, thanks to every single one of you for the donations, the bids and the links to the site and auctions! You’re all awesome for making this possible. Please continue to keep Carla and Lance in your thoughts.